Customer Reviews

A Bit of Fry and Laurie - Season One

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

'A Bit of Fry and Laurie' ranks as one of the greatest sketch shows ever to hit British television. However its fame is nowhere near as widespread as that of its counterparts 'Fawlty Towers' and 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'. Because of this lower profile it is rarely re-run on television and DVD and VHS releases are very limited. This is why it was with great joy that I heard of the DVD release of their complete first two series.

Having seen what Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie have to offer, it is difficult to understand why they have not had more widespread success. Their humour is fantastically witty and posesses the sophistication and finesse that other programmes so sorely lack. Stephen Fry's manipulation of the English language is always amusing and his talents fused with those of Hugh Laurie are a potent mix. Indeed it may sometimes remind the viewer of their other collaboration on 'Jeeves and Wooster'.

It is great news that this series has finally been committed to DVD and not simply a 'best of'. I would urge all comedy fans to buy this DVD and enjoy what is a top class comedy programme.

Capitalizing on the success of "House," the BBC have finally decided to release "A Bit of Fry & Laurie" on DVD, and I couldn't be happier. I got hooked on Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry while watching the Blackadder series, and have followed them through to other projects (Laurie's "House" and his book, "The Gun Seller" and Fry's fantastic program in the UK "QI") with great satisfaction. However, being from the States, and living there during the run of "A Bit of..." I hadn't been able to see much of the series til now.
The DVD doesn't disappoint. The duo's comic prowess comes through clear as a bell from the start of the disc. Ironic, urbane, witty, and cheeky--it's British sketch comedy at its best. There's a lot of great word play, and great comic timing throughout. I'd highly recommend it to any fan of BritCom.

Four seasons were not enough of this wonderful, hilarious show written and performed solely by Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie (okay, in the fourth series they had some famous guests like Imelda Staunton and Phyllida Law and a few extras here and there throughout the run of the show, but mostly, it was just the two of them.)

Their writing is amazing and their performances are doubly so. I highly recommend buying these discs. Fantastic.

i'm so glad they're finally putting this show out on DVD (and not just 'the best of')! Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry are hilarious in this show, the skits they do, portraying different characters (even women); they have to be a top comedic duo!

Before Hugh Laurie was the acerbic Dr. House, he was half of the comedy team of Fry and Laurie. Their bits are often sophisticated, sometimes silly, and occasionally incomprehensible to the US viewer (references to fellow Britians). Can't stop at one--better just order season 2 while you're at it.

Before they were the crusty misanthropic doctor in the TV series House and the king of plummy voice-overs, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry were overeducated sketch comedians. Their BBC shows were quirky, hit-and-miss affairs in the post-Monty Python vein, and are a worthy slice of British TV history from the late 1980s. These shows were designed as half-hour throwaway entertainment, and so they're not something you'll study over and over again, but they're entertaining nonetheless.

"...you cast me as the mouse in your little cat drama"

This series is slightly reminiscent of Monty Python, only not as (I hate to put is so bluntly) good. The problem mostly lies in the fact that many of these skits are parodies and reference pop culture and events - more like Saturday Night Live. So when watching something from that long ago - and from that far away - it wasn't nearly as enjoyable as if I'd been able to get all of the nuances. That's not to say that none of it was enjoyable (there certainly were moments that made me laugh) but it could have been better.

I know, nothing tops the great Monty Python, so I should be disappointed. But, given how much I've enjoyed Stephen Fry on Whose Line is it Anyway? and Hugh Laurie as House, well, I was a bit let down. I'd say summing up this as a cross between Monty Python and Saturday Night Live, 20 years out of date, is the best description. Not a waste of time, but not the best use of time.

I had no idea about these two until I saw them in Jeeves and Wooster. They are very witty, smart, clever and funny. They do owe a good deal to the Monty Python gang in style, but that is a good thing and they do not copy. There are many memorable lines and sketches, including "Control and Tony" the 2 kindly bland spies, or the barber who is too intellegent and round about for his own good.

I am so glad I have this DVD.

A friend of mine told about this show and I borrowed his DVD. After I had to buy my own. The sketches are a bit dated by now but they are still funny. Stephen Fry is an underrated comedy writer. I didn't know that Hugh Laurie was such a good comedian after seeing him in House. I especially loved the Control sketches. Laurie's song Mystery is a hilariously genius comedic song. If that makes any sense.

If you're a fan of British humor or of Stephen Fry/Hugh Lauire, then you need to buy this dvd! It is hilarious.